Suspension dust cover????

1. Laura21 L-plater Joined: Mar 2009 Sheffield Posts: 36 Y reg Saxo VTR - Sold 2001 MK4 Golf 1.8T GTI

   #1 26th April 2009, 15:49

   Took my car for its MOT the other day and the bloke at the garage told me that my offside lower suspension joint dust cover is split and that it will fail next years MOT.
   I phoned my local Citroen dealer up and they had no idea what the man at the garage means!
   Does anyone have any clue what he's talking about?
2. DanT Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 P'boro Posts: 1619 R27 Clio

   #2 26th April 2009, 16:34

   He might mean the dust cover that covers the damping rod to stop it from getting dusty (funny enough) if this is it then they are cheap and easy to replace. Watch you dont get ripped off.
3. VTRelite Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Gloucester Posts: 3000 Citroen Saxo VTR Renault 5

   #3 26th April 2009, 16:35

   could be the rubber sleeve on the shocker
   
   only thing i can think of
4. Lozza_vtr Established Member Joined: Jun 2007 Sunny Essex!! Posts: 2342 VW Golf Mk4 1.8T

   #4 26th April 2009, 16:36

   Well first of all i thought they were talking about the actual dust cover that covers the shock absorber.
   
   But reading again "lower suspension", i reckon it is the lower ball joint (split rubber cover) that connects to the hub assembly. Not to sure thought.
5. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #5 26th April 2009, 16:37

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by VTRelite could be the rubber sleeve on the shocker only thing i can think of

   id say that too tbh... but, if its split now, and will fail next year, shouldnt it of failed today? haha .... ignore it, i would...if this is the case, mines split like a bitch anywho.
6. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #6 26th April 2009, 17:12

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Lozza_vtr But reading again "lower suspension", i reckon it is the lower ball joint (split rubber cover) that connects to the hub assembly. Not to sure thought.

   I rekon itll be this too as to my knowledge a dust cover on the shock absorber doesnt affect MOT's
   
   Quite commonly the rubber around the wishbone ball joint where it goes into the base of the strut can perish and split.
   
   These are fairly cheap to replace and only cost about £5-£10 for the part plus whatever charge somewhere would cost to press it in
7. dougieph2 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 livingston Posts: 4174 Honda CRX!

   #7 26th April 2009, 17:55

   where the ball joint attaches to the hub theres a rubber sleeve kinda thing which keeps dust, water etc getting into the greased moving part, these tend to split.. how it didnt fail its mot today is because there wouldve been no play in that bottom ball joint, but, its the rubber cover is split then all the shite off the road will get into the ball joint and all the grease will come out meaning that you will have metal on metal contact with no lubrication, thus meaning it wears away the metal and you get play in the ball joint.
   
   your looking at a new wishbone next year most likely
8. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #8 26th April 2009, 18:04

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by dougieph2 your looking at a new wishbone next year most likely

   You definately wont need a new wishbone.
   
   This is the part which you will need to replace
   
   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-AX-SAX...1%7C240%3A1318
   
   Honestly if you get the part (probably cheaper if you get it from a local motor spares place like a 'Car User' as you wont pay postage.
   
   If you have any kind of mechanical knowledge or know anyone that has then take your own wishbone off and take it to any garage and they should be happy to press out the old one and put the new one back in for no more than £10
9. Laura21 L-plater Joined: Mar 2009 Sheffield Posts: 36 Y reg Saxo VTR - Sold 2001 MK4 Golf 1.8T GTI

   #9 26th April 2009, 21:56

   Thanks Guys for your replies!
   Had my wheel off and my head right under the arch but the only dust cover I can see isn't cracked/split/missing or even damaged.
   So I'm gonna take it tommorrow and find out what he means and get him to show me.
   My passenger side spring rubs on my inner wheel arch when full lock is on and make a loud creaking noise so he can check that too and it kills two birds with one stone!
   
   Cheers again!
   I'll let you know what it is when I find out myself!